Chris Whiting MP wants local community organisations to get a grant from a $2 million Palaszczuk Government grants program to assist sexual, domestic and family violence service providers.

Grants will be between $50,000 and $150,000 to support one-off innovations to ease the pressure on the DFV sector following unprecedented demand due to the pandemic.

“During the pandemic, Queenslanders stayed home to protect themselves from COVID-19, yet for so many homes is not a safe space,” said Chris Whiting

“Sadly, almost one in 10 women in a relationship experienced domestic violence during the pandemic, with two-thirds saying it started or became worse.

“Domestic violence hasn’t stopped because of the pandemic.

“These grants will give a welcomed boost to organisations such as neighbourhood centres, community legal services, local councils and DFV service providers to help them with innovations like transferring a counselling program to an online format or taking on temporary staff to meet short-term demand for services.

“Grants can also be used to purchase technology, to produce resources, video production or delivering a temporary program related to COVID.

“We hope to see applications from right across the State and I would encourage any organisation involved in sexual and domestic and family violence support to apply.

“This is the first time sexual, domestic and family violence service providers can apply for funding to help them respond to the impacts from the pandemic,” said Chris Whiting.

The $2 million in grant funding comes on top of $7.5 million in Queensland Government funding delivered to service providers at the start of the pandemic and is part of the $25.64 million for Queensland from the Commonwealth Government.

Applications are open until 28 February 2021.

For more information on how to apply visit www.qld.gov.au/notnownotevertogether